| Model 23, CR, R-6 | |
|---|---|
 The CR-1 with Bert Acosta, 1921 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Racing aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company |
| Primary user | United States Navy |
| Number built | 4 |
| History | |
| First flight | 1 August1921 |
TheCurtiss CR was a racing aircraft designed for theUnited States Navy in 1921 byCurtiss. It was a conventional single-seater biplane with a monocoque fuselage and staggeredsingle-bay wings of equal span braced with N-struts. Two essentially similar landplane versions were built as theCR-1 andCR-2, which were both eventually converted to seaplanes as theCR-3 in 1923 andCR-4 in 1924. A refined version was developed for theUS Army Air Service under the designationR-6. These latter two aircraft featured refined aerodynamics included surface-mounted radiators.
The Curtiss CRs enjoyed successful racing careers. Their first major win was at the 1921Pulitzer Trophy race, where piloted byBert Acosta the CR-1 took first place with an average speed of 176.75 mph (283.49 km/h), nearly two minutes ahead of its closest rival. The following year, this aircraft was modified and redesignated CR-2 and joined in the Pulitzer race by a second aircraft built to the same new standard, plus two R-6s flown by Army pilots. These Curtiss aircraft took first through fourth place, the two R-6s followed by the two CR-2s. The race was won by Lt.Russell Maughan with an average speed of 205.856 mph (330.172 km/h) with Lt.Lester Maitland in second place (198.850 mph/318.936 km/h). Maughan's effort incidentally broke every closed-circuit airspeed record up to 124 mi (200 km). The CR-2s took third and fourth places piloted by LtHarold Brow (average speed 193.695 mph/310.667 km/h) and Lt Jg Al Williams (average speed 187.996 mph/301.527 km/h).
The Army built upon this success with the R-6s by using the aircraft to break the world airspeed record before 1922 was over, GenBilly Mitchell flying one to 224.28 mph (359.72 km/h) on 18 October. In March the following year, an R-6 flown by Lt. Maughan lifted the record to 236.587 mph (380.74 km/h). The R-6 design was developed in 1923 into the longer-winged XPW-8, the prototype of thePW-8 fighter.
In 1923, the CR-2s were fitted with floats for theSchneider Trophy race and redesignatedCR-3. The aircraft took first and second place, piloted by David Rittenhouse (average speed 177.977 mph (154.658 kn; 286.426 km/h) and Rutledge Irvine 173.932 mph (151.143 kn; 279.916 km/h). After the 1924 Schneider Trophy race was cancelled, CR-3A6081 was flown by Lt. G.T. Cuuddihy to set up new World's closed-course seaplane record oc 188.07 mph (163.43 kn; 302.67 km/h).
A6081 was further modified as theCR-4 for use as a test-bed and trainer for the 1926 Schneider Trophy racing team.
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Data from Curtiss Aircraft 1907–1947[1]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
